Tales from two and a half parks

It all started about a month or so ago when it became known that we might be relocating. Mom decided it was time to visit some of those places that we hadn't gotten around to seeing yet. The first was this little fountain park, which we've passed hundreds of times on our way other places. It's basically just an island in the middle of an atypical intersection, but the kids thought it was great. Jared especially notices it now any time we go past.

The next day, Mom suggested a continuation of our park fest with a trip to the Park of Roses. We packed a lunch and headed out. We got to the place and parked. Mom and Lydia were the last ones out of the van. By that time, everyone else was well on their way away from where the actual rose garden was. Why? There was a playground! (Note that you can see everyone other than Mom in this picture; not everyday we get one of those shots!)

Lydia napped at first, but she seemed to like the place well enough when she woke up.
Amanda LOVED Dad pushing her on the tire swing.

In the end, though, no besides Mom wanted to actually go see roses that day. Mom spent the next several weeks suggesting the rose park whenever anyone asked for activity suggestions. We almost made it there for the 4th of July, but alas, there was no parking, since somebody decided it would be fun to shoot fireworks off in that park area. Finally, just over a month after the first attempt, Mom had had enough. She was going to get to that rose park, whatever it took. The three elder Muffins came along for the ride while Dad stayed home with sleeping Lydia. Behold, the rose garden! (or part of it, anyway)
The walkway into the park had lots of these inscribed stones, most of them dedications or memorials. Mom liked this one at the very beginning of the path:
The kids also liked the stones . . . for hopscotch.
Soon after we got into the park we found this fountain, which the kids had no desire to leave. Ever. (Looks like they would have been just as happy back at the fountain park!) Here we have Curtis, enjoying the water and the rainbow.
There was a concert going on at the park that evening, and so our visit had a bagpipe music soundtrack. We also found this little tower to climb. It had been empty for as long as we'd seen it, but not long after Mom took this picture, a whole bunch of other kids appeared and climbed it, too. Guess we Muffins are quite the trend setters.

Here are few rose pictures from the garden. This particular rose caught Mom's attention . . .
because of its name, which reminds Mom of Mrs. Shin's line in The Music Man: "This ruby hat of Omar kai-yai-yai-yai . . . I am appalled!"
Some other rose pictures that turned out pretty well: